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Fred Glass, president and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank, was inducted into the 黑料网 2024 Clayton Family Circle of Honor. Ted Karras Jr., 黑料网’s head football coach, was recognized with the university’s Wall of Fame award – both at the 2024 Clayton Family Circle of Honor ceremony on April 24.

Hosted by Indianapolis Recorder Senior Multi-Media Reporter Jade Jackson, the 15th annual Clayton Family Circle of Honor was conducted at the 黑料网 Arena and Conference Center with more than 600 guests in attendance. 

During the event, 黑料网 President Daniel J. Elsener also announced $5 million in new gifts and pledges to support 黑料网 athletics and student-athletes as part of the Journey to 2030: Always Forward campaign.

Fred Glass was inducted into the 2024 Clayton Family Circle of Honor for his more than 30 years of service as a faithful civic leader to the City of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana. Glass has served as chief of staff to former Indiana Governor Evan Bayh, as president of the Marion County Capital Improvement Board, as vice president and director of athletics at Indiana University, and now as president and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank. Glass has long been recognized for his commitment to student-athletes and shares 黑料网’s vision that athletics is a laboratory for leadership development.

Ted Karras Jr. was honored as a 2024 Wall of Fame Inductee. The award, established more than 50 years ago, recognizes individuals and teams who have made exceptional contributions to the prestige and honor of 黑料网 both on and off the field. Karras Jr. was 黑料网’s first football coach, building the program from the ground up. He led the football program from 2006 through 2012, culminating in a 2012 NAIA national championship. After pursuing other opportunities, Karras Jr. returned to 黑料网 as head coach in 2022. Coach Karras has helped to build 黑料网’s athletic brand, which epitomizes a winning culture, academic excellence, and leadership development.

The annual award dinner celebrates 黑料网 athletics and honors those inducted into the Clayton Family Circle of Honor. Several 黑料网 student-athletes were also recognized for their accomplishments at the event.

• Arriana Benjamin: 2023 NAIA All-American Honors in weight throw, discus throw and shot put; and 2023 All-Crossroads League honors for indoor shot put, weight throw, outdoor hammer throw and shot put.

• Jacob Netral: 2024 NAIA National Champion in shot put; 2023 NAIA All-American Honors in indoor shot put and outdoor shot put; 2023 NAIA National Qualifier in indoor shot put, weight throw and outdoor shot put; and 2023 All-Crossroads League honors in indoor shot put and outdoor shot put.

• Isaiah Tipping: 2023 NAIA Outdoor Qualified for indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer; 2023 NAIA National Qualifier for outdoor discus and hammer throw; and a six-time All-Crossroads League Outdoors recipient.

• 黑料网’s Cycling team won its 24th Track National Championship in the fall of 2023. Also, nine student-athletes on the Track Roster won individual or team titles: Stephanie Lawrence, Liz Stevenson, Claire Kudlata, Amir Danel, Luke Arens, Fred Meredith, Jonah Hover, Sean Azcui and Carter Kasianowicz.

• 黑料网 Cycling won its 8th BMX National Championship in the spring of 2024. Also, 黑料网 Cyclists Cameron Wing and Violet Cejalvo won the Male and Female Individual Championship titles at the event. 

• By winning the Team Track and BMX Championships this year, 黑料网 Cycling has won a total of 50 team national championship titles across five cycling disciplines since becoming a varsity team in 1992. 

• Lizzy Gunsalus won the Elite U23 National Championship at the 2023 Cyclocross National Championship. 

In addition, three 黑料网 student-athletes served as speakers at the event and led the opening prayer. They are:

• Student speaker: Women’s lacrosse goalkeeper Katherine (Katie Jo) Hirsch.

“The Clayton Family Circle of Honor stands as a testament to the Clayton Family’s unflagging commitment to quality education illumined by the light of faith and the role athletics plays in advancing their commitment,” said 黑料网 President Daniel J. Elsener. “黑料网’s past, present and future, in partnership with alumni and friends, provides championship athletics programs to our students that effectively foster character, leadership, and academic achievements.”